Waves and the Equilibrium Range at Ocean Weather Station P
Abstract
Wave and wind measurements at Ocean Weather Station P (OWS-P, 50 deg N 145 deg W) are used to evaluate the equilibrium range of surface wave energy spectra. Observations are consistent with a local balance between wind input and breaking dissipation, as described by Philips (1985). The measurements include direct covariance wind stress estimates and wave breaking dissipation rate estimates during a 3 week research cruise to OWS-P. The analysis is extended to a wider range of conditions using observations of wave energy spectra and wind speed during a 2 year mooring deployment at OWS-P. At moderate wind speeds (5 15 m/s), mooring wave spectra are in agreement, within 5% uncertainty, with the forcing implied by standard drag laws and mooring wind measurements. At high wind speeds (>15 m/s), mooring wave spectra are biased low, by 13%, relative to the forcing implied by standard drag laws and mooring wind measurements. Deviations from equilibrium are associated with directionality and variations at the swell frequencies. A spectral wave hindcast accurately reproduces the mooring observations, and is used to examine the wind input.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 08, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA599777
Entities
People
- A. Shcherbina
- E. A. D'asaro
- Erick Erick Rogers
- J. Thomson
- M. F. Cronin
- R. R. Harcourt
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory